BUFORD – Megan Hill could barely breathe or speak.
A horde of Buford girls soccer players ran across the grass field and squealed as the final buzzer sounded.
Buford did just that a season ago, after a great regular season and a loss to Walton in the second round. The Timberwolves made it past the Sweet Sixteen and advanced to the Elite Eight, a game they haven't played in since 2022.
“It was almost a jinx or a curse,” fifth-year head coach Megan Hill said. “We've overcome a big hurdle from the second half of last year. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth and you always want to move on to the next game.”
Buford (18-0-1) continued its undefeated season with a 1-0 win over Milton. Buford handed Walton a surprising 2-1 decision in two rounds in a match where his senior, Abby Killman, said the team may have overlooked their opponent. The Wolves went scoreless in the first half to beat Milton, and Caitlin White's heroics led to the decisive point.
Unlike the opening game, when Buford's offense outpaced Wheeler, it outplayed Milton defensively. Killman led the way in the midfield, with freshman Mara Shepard leading the way in a dominant 50-50 possession win that earned her the team's acclaimed GRIT Award.
“When you have a solid game plan and execute it,” Hill said. “It looks beautiful.”
Buford's game plan included heavy use of contain defense. Hill knew Milton would have plenty of opportunities in the opposing half, even if senior goaltender Alina Pope wasn't tested often.
In most games all season, Buford made decisive plays in the first half, allowing the defense to settle down in the final 40 minutes of regulation. However, the match against Milton ended in a stalemate. But the Wolves were undaunted going into the halftime locker room and left the field with a trapped mentality.
The coach's message was simple: Take a deep breath.
Shortly after, White scored a goal within the first five minutes (14 seconds) as the second half began. The early scoring punch, known as the “Big Five,” is emphasized within the Buford program.
“We all knew this was going to happen,” said Pope, who pumped his fist in the air after watching White's goal from 100 yards out. “It was like a breath of fresh air for the whole team. We knew we would do everything we could to not allow a goal.”
During the final five minutes of the game, Milton brought his players onto the field to attack. He tried to force extra playing time, but Hill wanted the team to keep “putting the pedal to the metal” and Buford won.
The level of enthusiasm and elation mirrored that of Buford's ultimate goal: a state championship title. But the second round victory felt that way in more ways than one. Killman said the team is facing a bit of a “mental block,” and Pope added that Buford got over the “nervousness” of results a year ago.
Buford now realizes they are one step closer to playing the remaining two games before the title match at home.
“We are not finished yet,” the Pope said. “We're just getting started.”
